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Kkl122002
Tinkerer
Username: Kkl122002
Post Number: 66
Registered: 05-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 08:08 am: | 
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I just served my Canon A-1 in this afternoon. I used valve oil but found that it is not very effective. The squeaking sound still exist until I changed to watch oil. The white grease area has switched to Moly grease. The operation sounds more effective after changing. And I think it is time for me to give up using Valve oil.
While I am reading the factory's manual, I notice it use Astro oil, and a mystery thing known as GE-7. What are they? Is it possible to get them from hobbit shop? |
Brianshaw
Tinkerer
Username: Brianshaw
Post Number: 58
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 01:12 pm: |
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GE-7 is Aeroshell Grease No. 7, a synthetic grease:
MIL-G-23827 general purpose aircraft and instrument grease for heavy loads. |
Kkl122002
Tinkerer
Username: Kkl122002
Post Number: 67
Registered: 05-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 10:56 am: |
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So, where can I get Aeroshell Grease? it sounds very difficult to get them. |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 598
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 05:55 pm: |
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For heaves sake ignore all the useless lubricant references you read in old Canon service manuals. There is enough information within this forum for you to select modern, easily available lubricants.
The GE-7 reference originates from a Japanese bearing manufacturer's list. There is no valid reason why Canon recommended the Aeroshell grease, there were at least 10 other products that met the MIL spec at the time - including 4 from Japanese suppliers. You should also note that grease to this specification is not needed, even in an A-1 continually operated by the motor drive unit.
The A Series mechanism is not lubricant sensitive, and this holds true for most cameras with similar internal mechanicals. Many years ago I stripped and repaired a colleague's A-1, whilst sitting in a Berber encampment deep in the Sahara. I relubed the camera using a battered can of 'Singer Sewing Machine Oil' supplied by our Berber Guide - the camera functioned perfectly for the whole of the remaining six months of the project. I expect many people on the forum will be horrified to lean that I always lube the flywheel shaft sleeve bearing, in the mirror damper of the A-1, with decanted WD-40. Always have, always will - my A-1s have seen really hard use over the years, working perfectly on Nyoil, WD-40 and general purpose automotive wheel bearing grease - use the moly loaded version if one wishes.
The only lubricant critical component on a camera is the lens helical. For obvious reason you need a temperature stable, none separating, none outgassing grease, of suitable viscosity to give the correct feel to the focusing action. |
Brianshaw
Tinkerer
Username: Brianshaw
Post Number: 61
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 07:46 pm: |
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Glenn's first and last paragraphs are worth repeating... repeatedly! |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 599
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 08:08 am: |
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Thanks Brian, I think we sing from the same hymn sheet - just common sense really. |
Kkl122002
Tinkerer
Username: Kkl122002
Post Number: 68
Registered: 05-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 08:26 am: |
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I do believe, and agree that modern lub. shell better then the old one. My old clocks are using Singer oil / WD-40 for lub. The old clock who has passed though 2 great wars is still function properly.
And, seriously, I have no idea why it has been so nervous to this question. I just hope to know if I can obtain the old lub in today's hardware supply. |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 604
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 09:11 am: |
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Kevin,
I seriously doubt that you will find any of the old lubricants in the consumer supply chain. You will find them and modern equivalents at a specialised supplier, in fact I have just broken off and Googled Shell aero greases - Went straight to the Official Shell site, Aeroshell no 7 is $10.00 a tube. All in less than 30 secs!
As to whether Shell market these products in HK/China, I have no idea. What I am certain of is that the Chinese aviation industry will have an exact equivalent, here in the UK or in the US I would suggest a stroll down to the local flying club hanger armed with a paper cup! General purpose airframe greases are blended to meet one important criteria above all others, an extreme temperature range. The Aero grease 7 has an operating range of -73 deg C to +149 deg C, not really applicable to an A-1 used for photographing the kids occasionally. |
Kkl122002
Tinkerer
Username: Kkl122002
Post Number: 69
Registered: 05-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 10:22 am: |
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Thank you for your words, Glenn.
I found the grease recently. A friend from a local flying club brought me a small jar of it. I tested it with an old clock gear sent from UK. Surprisingly found that there is not much difference between Aero grease and a cheap ceramic grease. The ceramic grease works even much better then it.
I also asked the workers in HK Shell gas station. They do not sell this grease, nor the car repair/supply services. And in China, most of them seems don't know what it is. |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 605
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 06:03 pm: |
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Kevin,
Your findings on testing the two greases do not surprise me. Only testing over the extreme temperature range I mentioned in my previous post, would show you the real differences in these greases. If you asked an aviation engineer in China for a sample of general purpose airframe grease, he would be able to give you a sample of grease which would be very similar to the Aeroshell product. |
Kkl122002
Tinkerer
Username: Kkl122002
Post Number: 70
Registered: 05-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 06:27 pm: |
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THank you for your advice, Glenn,
I will ask the Chinese seller agin later on the week. I have to travel though 2 places frequently because of my job. |
